Launched in 1973, after Caterham Cars->ke1252 purchased the rights for the roadster from Lotus->ke49, the Seven->ke3209 has soldiered on with few changes until 2015. Granted, the sports car received increasingly modern engines and state-of-the-art lightweight materials such as carbon-fiber, but from a design standpoint, the modern-day Seven is very similar to the car introduced more than four decades ago. For 2015, Caterham launched more updates and simplified the Seven lineup to five core models, all available with the new S and R equipment packages.

Among them there's the 2015 Seven 360 R takes all that is good in the standard 360 and turns the dial up a bit. Sure, there are no massive drivetrain updates, but Caterham worked hard in other areas to make the 360 R a more track-ready machine. The best (or possibly the worst, depending on how you look at it) part about the 360 R is that it is almost a secret, because the updates are quite subtle and require a careful eye to spot.

Not available in the United States for the time being, the Seven 360 slots between the 270 and the 480 models. It uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and much like other modern Sevens, it can be equipped with an extensive range of options. Have a look at the review below for more info on that.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2015 Caterham Seven 360 R.

Exterior

On the outside, the Caterham Seven 360 R looks no different from any other Seven model. It features the classic Caterham look with a semi-open-wheel design, a long hood, bug-eye headlights, side-exit exhaust, and a roll bar for added safety.

If you look very closely, you may notice two slight differences between the R model and the standard 360, and those are the “360 R” decals and the “aero” fuel-filler cap.

While some may find it boring, I am actually happy that Caterham left the 360’s exterior unchanged with the new R package. Something about that simple look of a Caterham car just makes me smile.

Interior

Inside the cabin, the 360 R gets a few extra goodies that you won’t find in the standard 360, but you still need to know exactly what you’re looking for. The overall appearance of the cabin is very similar to that of the standard 360, as it is quite simple and focused more on functionality than beauty.

The R package tosses in a carbon-fiber dashboard, composite racing seats, a momo steering wheel, a four-point racing harness, a 12-volt power socket, an exclusive gearshift knob, and unique instruments.

Drivetrain

In the power department, the 360 R comes with the same engine and transmission as the standard 360. This is a 1,999 cc Ford Duratec four-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower at 7,300 rpm and 194 pound-feet of torque at 6,100 rpm. This engine mates to a five-speed manual transmission.

In the R package, Caterham upgraded the drivetrain with a limited-slip differential for added grip and a lightweight flywheel to allow the engine to rev more freely.

While this may not seem like much power at all, you have to keep in mind that the Caterham 360 weighs only 1,234 pounds. This low weight and ample power allows the 360 R to sprint to 60 mph in just 4.8 seconds and up to a top speed of 130 mph.

The standard 360 is a good-handling rig in its own right, but the R package pushes it even further with a sports suspension pack, a rear anti-roll bar, and 15-inch Orcus alloy wheels with Avon tires.

Prices

The Standard Caterham Seven 360 checks in at £26,995 ($40,099 as of 3/30/2015) in the UK, and the R package adds in another £3,995 ($5,934). That brings the total MSRP for the Seven 360 R to £30,990 ($46,034), plus an extra £3,000 ($4,456) if you want the factory to assemble it for you.

Competition

Ariel Atom

The Ariel Atom is a relative newcomer next to the Caterham Seven, but it is still a great performer in this wild segment. Thanks to a 2.0-liter Honda engine that produces 245 horsepower, the Ariel Atom can hit 60 mph in a lightning-fast three seconds. Though it is significantly quicker than the Caterham 360 R, it is also far more expensive at over $70,000. On top of that, the Atom has no roof and a limited body to protect you from the outside elements. However, I guess none of that matters when you’re driving a track-only vehicle.

Find out more about the Ariel Atom here.

KTM X-Bow GT

The KTM X-Bow GT is a great competitor to the Caterham, thanks to its full windshield and body that help keep the elements out. The X-Bow GT is far more powerful than the Caterham 360 R, as its 2.0-liter Audi engine puts out 281 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of twist. Doing the cog swapping is either a six-speed manual transmission or a dual-clutch trans. This drivetrain nets the lightweight KTM a 0-to-60 time of 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. Both benchmarks are significantly better than the Seven 360 R. Where the Caterham wins is in terms of pricing, as the KTM X-Bow GT costs a whipping $88,500.

Read more about the KTM X-Bow GT here.

Conclusion

Caterham has a long history of delivering excellent lightweight track cars at a relatively low price. It continues this trend with the 2015 Seven 360, and it pushes the model to a new level with the R package. Sure, it is nothing outrageous, but it does add some extra bits that are sure to help it deliver faster lap times. Additionally, Caterham refrained from jacking the price up too high in the process.